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Liberation and a new republic (1945–49) 52 photos

Liberation and war, rebuilding and industrialization, the Olympics and the World Cup: Korea's streets, people and scenes, grouped by era and theme. Only photos taken in Korea and published on Wikimedia Commons under free licenses (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA, public domain or KOGL Type 1) are shown, each with its author and license. New photos are added every week.

김구 반탁운동 연설 — 김구 반탁운동 연설Photo: 한국역사연구회 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Seoul, Korea October 1945 (4484318764) — Seoul, Korea October 1945 (4484318764)Photo: Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

1945 in Seoul (4999234787) — 1945 in Seoul (4999234787)Photo: Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Seoul on Independence Day in 1945 — Seoul on Independence Day in 1945Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Seoul Beggar 1945 — Seoul Beggar 1945Photo: Don O'Brien · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

RheeSyngman 1945's — RheeSyngman 1945'sPhoto: Anonymous Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

8월 16일 마포형무소 앞에서 환호하는 독립운동가들 — 8월 16일 마포형무소 앞에서 환호하는 독립운동가들Photo: KBS 스페셜 8.15 광복특집 기억의 재구성 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Rhee, Kim Gu and Hodge — Rhee, Kim Gu and HodgePhoto: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Rhee Syngman and Kim Gu 1945-December-1 — Rhee Syngman and Kim Gu 1945-December-1Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

1945.11.03 대한민국 임시정부 환국 — 1945.11.03 대한민국 임시정부 환국Photo: Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

19451230 신탁통치 반대 운동 — 19451230 신탁통치 반대 운동Photo: Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

194504尹致昊 — 194504尹致昊Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Second lieutenant Mitsuyama — Second lieutenant MitsuyamaPhoto: Unknown photographer, Imperial Japanese Army · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

1945.11.23 대한민국 임시정부 요인 일동 — 1945.11.23 대한민국 임시정부 요인 일동Photo: Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Han River Railroad Bridges — Han River Railroad BridgesPhoto: Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Japanese Flag dragging lowered 1945.8.15 — Japanese Flag dragging lowered 1945.8.15Photo: 原典不詳 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Korean Boy Scouts-1945 — Korean Boy Scouts-1945Photo: Don O'Brien · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Withdrawal of Japanese troops from Korea — Withdrawal of Japanese troops from KoreaPhoto: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

US Army in Korea under Japanese Rule — US Army in Korea under Japanese RulePhoto: US military Photograph（アメリカ国防総省の写真） · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Preparatory Committee for National Construction in Chemulpo — Preparatory Committee for National Construction in ChemulpoPhoto: Korean People Journal. This file was scanned and edited by… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Demonstration in support of the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers — Demonstration in support of the Moscow Conference of Foreign MinistersPhoto: Korean People Journal · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Launching convention of the Democratic Party of Korea — Launching convention of the Democratic Party of KoreaPhoto: Korean People Journal · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Pusan Japanese Relief Society — Pusan Japanese Relief SocietyPhoto: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Japanese Refugee camp in Uijeongbu — Japanese Refugee camp in UijeongbuPhoto: US military(Tenth United States Army) Photograph · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

DDT spray at Gyeongseong Station — DDT spray at Gyeongseong StationPhoto: US military(Tenth United States Army) Photograph · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Choi Seung-hee repatriated from Beiping to Korea — Choi Seung-hee repatriated from Beiping to KoreaPhoto: US military(Tenth United States Army) Photograph · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

미소공위 환영 시민대회 — 미소공위 환영 시민대회Photo: 경성방송국 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Korean Welcome, Seoul 1945 — Korean Welcome, Seoul 1945Photo: Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Incheon 1945 — Incheon 1945Photo: Official U.S. Navy Photograph, · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

左右合作運動 — 左右合作運動Photo: Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

View of Seoul, Korea (May 1946) — View of Seoul, Korea (May 1946)Photo: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Gate at Chosen Hotel in Seoul, Korea (May 1946) — Gate at Chosen Hotel in Seoul, Korea (May 1946)Photo: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Emperor's Palace in Seoul, Korea (May 1946) — Emperor's Palace in Seoul, Korea (May 1946)Photo: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Street scene in Seoul, Korea (May 1946) — Street scene in Seoul, Korea (May 1946)Photo: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Korean Woman and Children in Seoul, Korea — Korean Woman and Children in Seoul, KoreaPhoto: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Korean Women and Children in Seoul, Korea — Korean Women and Children in Seoul, KoreaPhoto: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Ernest Klein with Koreans in Seoul, Korea — Ernest Klein with Koreans in Seoul, KoreaPhoto: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Christian Museum - Seoul, Korea (May 1946) — Christian Museum - Seoul, Korea (May 1946)Photo: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Christian Museum - Seoul, Korea — Christian Museum - Seoul, KoreaPhoto: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Korean Ox Drawn Trailer in Seoul, Korea — Korean Ox Drawn Trailer in Seoul, KoreaPhoto: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Typical Home in Seoul, Korea (1946) — Typical Home in Seoul, Korea (1946)Photo: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Korean Shoemaker in Seoul (1946) — Korean Shoemaker in Seoul (1946)Photo: United States Army Signal Corps; Harry S. Truman Library &… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Demonstration in support of the US-Soviet Joint Commission1 — Demonstration in support of the US-Soviet Joint Commission1Photo: Korean People Journal · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Demonstration in support of the US-Soviet Joint Commission2 — Demonstration in support of the US-Soviet Joint Commission2Photo: Korean People Journal · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

신탁통치 반대 집회 01 — 신탁통치 반대 집회 01Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Korean Walker - Flickr - dok1 — Korean Walker - Flickr - dok1Photo: Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Francesca and Syngman in the car — Francesca and Syngman in the carPhoto: Newsis · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

19480531이승만 임시의장 인사말 — 19480531이승만 임시의장 인사말Photo: Unknown Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Declaration of Korean Constitution — Declaration of Korean ConstitutionPhoto: Christian Today (Korea) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Syngman Rhee and the Constitution of the Republic of Korea — Syngman Rhee and the Constitution of the Republic of KoreaPhoto: Unknown Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

19480724이승만 취임선서 — 19480724이승만 취임선서Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

The Chosun Ilbo, 17 July 1948, p.1, Announcing Constitution of the Republic of Korea — The Chosun Ilbo, 17 July 1948, p.1, Announcing Constitution of the Republic of KoreaPhoto: The Chosun Ilbo · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

1940s · Liberation and Division →

Historical photo archive

The Korean War (1950–53) · Postwar Korea in the 1950s · Korea in the 1960s · Korea in the 1970s · Korea in the 1980s · Korea in the 1990s · Korea in the 2000s · Korea in the 2010s · Old Seoul streets · Seoul 1988 Olympics · 2002 World Cup and Red Devils street cheering · Trams, trains, the Pony and the Gyeongbu Expressway · Cheonggyecheon and its old overpass · Markets and street stalls · Korean school uniforms · Dosirak lunch boxes · Phone booths & rotary phones · Street snacks: tteokbokki, dalgona & more · Traditional games: yut, jegi, ttakji

Sources

Photos come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the license shown with each one. Click a photo to open its original file page.